Category Archives: Travel

I love going to Branson for vacation several times a year! In fact, we just got back from our Christmas trip there just a week ago and we loved it! I am already creating my Spring Break packing list since it is just a few months away!

I am all about packing light! Here is how to have an ton of outfits with just 8 mix and match main pieces!!

Hey everyone! We recently went on a big vacation to Grove, OK. It was incredible! We had a blast and it was really affordable! I highly suggest it to anyone!!

Why Grove?

Grove is about 1 and a half hour east of Tulsa, so it is not a very far drive for us. We have a group of 12 of us going with all ages from Seniors to Newborn babies, so we needed somewhere to suit many ages and interests. We are able to take the kids to museums, play at the lake, go fishing, and play in the pool. We just went for a weekend and it was so fun to just get away. I really didn’t want to leave!

Where to Stay

We compared so many different resorts and decided to go with Lee’s Grand Lake Resort since they had what seemed like the best amenities for the price! They had a free breakfast each morning which varied each day. While we were there we had sausage gravy and biscuits one day and bacon and french toast the next day. The cabins also had full kitchens! Our cabin had 3 bedrooms 3 1/2 bathrooms and a pull out couch downstairs. They also had a twin size mattress tucked away for use. Oh, and we had a hot tub! It was wonderful! My only real complaint is that they made us pay $15 each for 2 extra people (a 3 year old and a 7 year old) when the website said $12 each extra person. They pool was so much fun! It goes from 3 feet to 9 feet! There is also a playground for the kiddos!

What to Do

We went to Har-Ber Village. It is an outdoor museum that has historical items and scenes inside old cabins! It was so much fun to see the 100 different exhibits and it is only $10 per adult and $5 per child over 3! There are also many neat looking antique stores when you go into the town of Grove! We didn’t get to go to the antique stores, but hope to go to them when we go back in the fall! There is also Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees. There are many nice fishing docks and beaches around the lake to play at and fish!

If you are looking for a fun vacation or weekend trip without breaking the bank, Grove is the place to go!

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I love lists! They help me remember what all to pack when going on a trip and make sure that we don’t leave anything behind when we are coming home. Traveling with kids and a baby can be a difficult task if you go into it unprepared. It can also take up a lot of precious room in your vehicle if you over pack, but then what if you under pack and leave important stuff at home?? Don’t worry! After many trips to the nearest Walmart to get stuff that we left behind and also many trips where we had bags laying on our laps because we packed stuff we really didn’t need, I have figured out some awesome tips for packing light but still bringing everything you need!

First things first, we are going to talk about why we under pack. We think that traveling light means we will need to do without certain items or we think, “I can just pick that up at the local store”. Well, you are kind of right in thinking that about some items, but think about it this way:

You are wasting at least an hour running to the store to pick up an extra outfit, or some accessories.

There are impulse buys at the store. Your kids were cold in that restaurant, you should buy them a hoodie. Oh my gosh, my kid was running and skinned his knee, I need bandaids. Look at those cute sunglasses, I need those. Before you know it, you have spent $70 on the same crap you had at home and could have brought for free. $70 could buy a meal!

Your kids will make you miserable if you forget about something they need, take the hoodie for instance. They will be cold EVERYWHERE you go and complain the whole time. Then that brings us back to problems #1 and #2.

Now onto why we overpack. We think about the what ifs. “What if Jimmy gets loses one of his toys, should I bring extra?” “What if he spills something on every single outfit we brought?” “What if we get invited to a prestigious country club ball and I don’t have a ballgown?”. In the event something like that happens, then you can go shopping, but don’t bring a long that tuxedo just in case. It is taking up room that you can use for other things.

Ok, so we have discussed why we under pack and over pack and the problems that go with each. Now we need to talk about the perfect amount to pack!

flip flops or sandals- bring a neutral pair that will go with each outfit.

tennis shoes- 1 pair if you will be walking a lot

1 hat- if it is going to be sunny, bring a sunhat or ball cap

accessories- I like to keep these to a minimum. Bring a watch, maybe 2 necklaces and 2 pair of earrings. Keep it simple!

Kids Clothes- (one outfit per day and then 1 extra)

Underwear- 1 per day and then 2 extra

socks- only if you are bringing tennis shoes (1 pair each day you will be wearing sneakers)

sleepwear- 1 for each 2-3 days

pull ups or goodnights- if you kid wets the bed

Shirts and bottoms- 1 per day (I like mix and match) and then 1 extra outfit

Swimwear- 2 each

Hoodie or light jacket- 1

sundress- 1

flip flops or sandals- bring a neutral pair that will go with each outfit

tennis shoes- 1 pair

hat- 1 if it is going to by sunny

accessories- kids don’t need many accessories- Iz wears earrings and a hair bow with each outfit! Maybe a watch.

Baby Clothes (2 outfits per day and then 1 extra)

socks- like 20 pair… ok, maybe 1 pair per day and then 2 extra (they get lost easily)

sleepwear- 1 pair per night and then 1 extra

outfits- 2 per day and then 1 extra

onesies- 1-2 that can be used at night or that baby can wear during the day!

swim diapers- bring a whole package. You never know how many times you will get back into the pool.

swimwear- 2 each

hoodie or light jacket- 1

baby sandals- 1-2 pair if they are of walking age.

sun hat- to shade his little face

Baby Bag

diapers- bring 1-2 full packages.

formula- 1-2 cans (unless you are breastfeeding)

Breastmilk- I like to keep some frozen to thaw out as needed if we are somewhere that makes it hard to nurse!

Breast pumps- I like to bring a manual one (for use in the car), and the big one!

baby snacks

bottles and nipples- bring 3 or 4

Travel sized dish soap- to wash the bottles

sippy cup- 1-2

stroller- easier and cheaper than renting one! Find out prices plus baby will be more comfortable in his own stroller rather than a hard one!

Pack-and-play- This is priceless when it comes to travel! Just bite the bullet and bring it!

car seat- DUH!!!

baby carrier/sling- This can be brought in addition to, or instead of the stroller! I bring both because sometimes Izzy wants the stroller (yes she is almost 7, but she gets tired too!!).

Wagon- we sometimes bring the wagon instead of the stroller and put the boppy (not the bumbo) in it for the baby and Iz can sit in it too!

Infant swim float- so that everyone can enjoy the water!

pacifiers- bring 2 because one will get lost!

blankets- bring a heavy warm one and a light one.

soft toys- bring 2-3 different ones!

Kids Bag

Toys- bring 2-3 toys or games. Izzy usually brings her Nabi, a doll, and a coloring book with colored pencils.

Book- Bring 2 that they can read!

Movies- bring 2-4 movies depending on how long the trip is. Our car has a built in DVD player that we LOVE! It keeps her entertained for HOURS while we are on a trip!!

Snacks- bring a few small snacks and drinks so that you don’t have to stop on the way down as much!

Misc Stuff

Camera and charger

cell phones and chargers

tablets and chargers

refillable water bottles- 1 for each person

beach bag or tote

beach towel

zip loc bags in various sizes

Walmart sacks

paper towels

tissues

THE RULES OF PACKING

Each person gets 1 small duffel bag for their clothes and accessories. Me and my hubby share a medium sized bag.

For kids, put each full outfit with accessories inside a ziploc bag and flatten all the air out of it. They can pick their full outfit for each day without the mess of having a million outfits all over the place.

We use one waterproof bag for all the toiletries as a family. The waterproof aspect has helped when shampoo or toothpaste spill out all over the bag.

We allow 1 activity bag per kid in the car so that they can stay entertained while not creating a mess.

Don’t stuff your bag full. It will cause you to bring useless items by thinking you need to stuff your bag. Use the smallest bag possible to fit your stuff.

Happy Travels everyone and I hope you found this post as helpful as I have over the years!

So, Branson trip #2 was a bust for the most part. So, we left on Friday morning, and on our way out of Norman, we stopped at the Starbucks on Robinson St. I ordered a Peppermint Mocha (my favorite drink besides a Tuxedo Latte, and a Pumpkin Spice Latte). I noticed the drink smelled a little funny and tasted weird, but I also had a muffin so I thought maybe it was just the muffin. About half way through my drink it still tasted GROSS. Turns out they used spoiled milk in it. About the time we hit Joplin, well you can only guess what happened!!

Then we get to our hotel! We stayed at the Stone Castle Resort on a side street off the Strip! It was such a neat place! It was medieval castle themed and they had 3 huge buildings with over 100 rooms in each, 2 indoor pools, and it was pet friendly (we have a little blind, diabetic poodle who is 10 years old! The rooms (especially the bathrooms) were on the small side, but plenty of room for just the 3 of us and for as much time as we spent in them. They also had a lot of cool lounge areas that had big tables and cozy couches. The breakfast was a step up from the usual cereal and stale doughnuts most places offer. They had eggs, cheesy egg casserole, biscuits and gravy, cereal, doughnuts, and eggo waffles (hey I said it was a step up! lol). The hot tub was DISGUSTING. It was luke warm at the hottest and had hair and dead skin floating all in it. The pool had so much chlorine in it that it burned your eyes walking into the pool area. We told management about it and they didn’t seem to concerned. This was a nice hotel for $80 per night, but we are looking to stay somewhere else when we go back because 1. The pool sucked 2. We were told we could have a late check out on Sunday so that we could go eat lunch with the fam before we had to check out (so Bebe the poodle could stay in the room) and when I called to confirm it at 10am, they told me the latest we could check out was 11:30am. We also had an issue with one of our people not being able to check into their room after they had already been charged for it!

So, after we checked in, we went to Silver Dollar City. It has always been so magical and my favorite time to go to SDC. NOT THIS TIME… The staff was so rude. I was appalled. We went to the greedy theme park in July and bought season passes so that we could come back in the winter. We were told not to buy one for my 5 year old daughter because she could get in for the rest of the year under me and my hubby with a guest pass. They still made us pay for her and called us liars that we had been there 4 days in a row with my daughter going in under this “guest pass”. We went on ahead and payed the $47 for her to enter. Our first stop in there was the Christmas Store. I used to have such happy memories of that little store. It was my Grandma Lee’s favorite store in SDC before she passed away. When I went in there I saw a lady writing on customized ornaments and she had the most beautiful handwriting. My mother asked if she could personalize and ornament if she bought one and the lady said yes, to just bring it over there and she will do it. So my mama went to the front, paid for the ornament where another lady proceeded to personalize it, and my mom told her no, that she wanted the other lady to because she liked her handwriting. The lady who checked my mom out, got mad about that and had a fit about that my mom wanted the other lady to do it and began to tell my mom what a horrible person she was and that she would just have to wait to get it done and she will have to come back in like 3 hours. My mom had paid cash and wanted her money back. They made her show an ID and give an address to get it back. She refused and told them she did not have to give and address or phone number. They rushed us out of the store after that. We also wanted to go see the Saloon show. We waited in the cold for 45 minutes. Just as we were about to enter, they ended up canceling the show for some unknown reason. I will not be going back when we go to Branson in December.

Saturday we went to the Outlet Mall in the Morning! It was one of the most fun things we did on our trip! It was fun, but crowded. We had to hurry back to the hotel to get ready to see Yakov. We paid $50 each ticket thinking we would go and have a great time (since my dad has been dying to see Yakov since I was little). He told a few jokes, but it was mostly a relationship advice seminar (I paid $30 per couple and went to a seminar better than that at home). My daughter slept the entire time (and so did I). It was a lot of rambling with a joke in between. The dinner we were supposed to get was a measly piece of chicken, some flavorless mashed potatoes, and a nasty apple pie. We were supposed to get a hot dog and a strawberry shortcake for my daughter as a kids meal, but they gave her an adult meal anyways and ignored my requests for a kids meal, so we ended up driving her through McDonald’s on the way back to the hotel.

Sunday, we went to Mel’s Hardluck Diner on our way out of town. I LOVE Mel’s. All the wait staff sings and they have their CD’s for sale at the front. They are all so talented and the food is incredible. It was a fun time with family and friends! Most of them had Christmas CD’s for sale! It is our tradition every time we go to Branson!

There was more bad than there was good out of the trip, but next time we are going to see some great shows that we already know!!

So, I am going on a Vacation to Branson, MO soon and I am so excited for great bonding time with my husband, daughter, my parents, and some other family members! So, when we went to Branson in June, my dad’s gall bladder was acting up and he was sick the entire 5 day vacation! We were hoping to have a second chance at a “successful” vacation, but I now have a torn meniscus in my knee and will be wheel chair bound for the trip! I got hurt while teaching a dance class, but we will save that utterly embarrassing story for another day.

Anyways, on our trip, we are going to go to Dinner with Yakov Smirnoff! He is a Russian comedian and is supposed to be hilarious! I am so excited to see him! We are also going to go to Silver Dollar City for an Old Time Christmas! It is one of the most amazing and magical times to go! They have a lighted parade and a huge tree that lights up to music as well as lots of shops and rides!! We always get season passes to Silver Dollar City and go during at least every season! We will also be going to Mel’s Hard Luck Diner! They not only have incredible food, but all the waiters and waitresses sing! You can buy their cd and they sing great versions of popular songs! We will be going to the Tanger Outlet Mall for a little retail therapy during our weekend!!

Going on Vacation can be a fashion nightmare since you want to be comfortable but still want to look nice. Plus you don’t have access to your whole wardrobe while you are away! You also need to dress for the weather and bring options for virtually any weather situation! I have found that dressing in layers is key to staying comfortable and cute! So, we are also doing a lot of activities on my vacation! That seems like it would require a million different outfits right? No! I will be there for 2 nights 3 days so I will not need a half a million different outfits! I love mix and match! I can pack a few items and have enough outfit choices for the entire weekend and then some!

Packing List

The Basics

Bras & Underwear– I usually bring 1 pair per day, plus a few extra

Socks– 1 pair per day

Sleepwear– 1 or 2 pair should be ok!

Robe

House Slippers

Outfits for Women

Dress– I am totally obsessed with sweater dresses! They can be casual with leggings and boots or you can dress them up with textured tights and heels!

Jeans– bring 1 pair in a skinny style or straight leg! They can be tucked into boots or worn with heels! They are super versatile.

Black Leggings- you can wear these with a long shirt or under a dress! I love the leggings that have fleece inside because they have the warmth of sweats with the fashion of leggings!

Long Silky Shirt- This shirt can be worn with your leggings or jeans and can be dressed up or down.

Black Camisole- worn under anything!

Dressy Tank Top- This can be worn under a jacket or sweater (refer to my whole layering binge above)

Sweater or Jacket- I usually bring a lightweight cardi or sweater and I would also bring a leather jacket or jean jacket! It may be cold outside, but it can get really hot in shows and inside (or vice verse).

Boots- bring one pair of boots. I don’t really like to wear boots with a high heel since I want to be comfy when walking around! Opt for riding boots, uggs, or cowboy boots!

Heels- For those dressy occasions!

Swimsuit- If there is a pool at your hotel, bring a swimsuit! Even if you don’t think you will have time for the pool, you may find yourself with more down time and dying to hit the hot tub for relaxation!

Jewelry- I always accessorize, even when I am wanting to relax! I bring a few key necklaces that will go with any outfit! I also never leave without my 9mm bullet earrings (in the south, bullet earrings are a common fashion staple!)

Scarves- I cannot believe how much I wear scarves! They are just like a necklace, but better!

Gloves- I have a half a million gloves! I love them! They are so wonderful since I constantly have cold hands!

Hats- Just like my gloves, I love hats! I inherited some of my Grandma’s hats (she died in March at the age of 95, almost 96) so these are very vintage hats! Vintage is coming back and I love it! I have many bourees and sun hats that I wear a lot!

Outfits for Kids (girls) (I don’t have a boy, but you can adapt this to a boy!)

Dress- Once again, for a little girl, I would choose a sweater dress!

Jeggings or Jeans- These are great to pair with everything! I usually bring 2 pairs since traveling and 5 year olds don’t mix (especially when trying to eat in the car!)! Choose a skinny jean or straight leg that can be tucked into boots or worn with flats.

Long Sleeve T-Shirt- I bring 2-3 of these! They can be layered under other stuff in case it is cold outside!

Black Leggings- These can be worn as pants or under a dress or skirt!

Sweater or Jacket- I would bring a light jacket and a heavy coat!

Boots- I bring uggs for Izzy!

Flats- Flats will look cute with the dress or with the jeans and a cute shirt!

Swimsuit- Kids love to swim! Bring a swimsuit if your hotel has a pool!!

Gloves, scarf, and hat- just in case it is cold out! We will be walking SDC at night, so she will need these for sure!

Toiletries

Toothbrush and Toothpaste/ Oral Hygiene Products

Deodorant

Cotton Balls/ Cotton Swabs

Soap

Shampoo and Conditioner

Shaving Supplies

Make Up Remover

Hair Brush

Hair Products

Curling Iron and Flat Iron

Birth Control

Feminine Hygiene Products

Birth Control

Contact Lenses and accessories

Make Up Kit

Prescription Medications

Other Items

Cell Phone & Charger

Laptop & Charger

Camera & Charger or Batteries

GPS

Portable DVD Player and DVD’s

Now that I have told you what all I pack on my trip, I will let you know where to wear each outfit!

Dinner Show- Yakov Smirnoff

Sweater Dress- I have a deep red/ oxblood colored sweater dress with a cowl neck and edgy zippers and rhinestones on the neck!

Earrings and necklace

Black Leggings or tights

Black heeled boots

Theme Park- Silver Dollar City

Jeans- I will be wearing a dark wash skinny jean!

Long sleeved shirt/ long sleeved silky shirt- I have not decided which shirt I will wear yet

So sorry I have not posted on here in a while! I am a dance teacher, studio owner, have a full time job, and I am a dance mommy, so I have been quite busy this past week. Wow! We have two road trips coming up within the next two weeks. We are going to my Grandma’s house for the hubby and her birthday (they were both born on March 31st) plus, I am planning a trip with a group of 50 for a dance performance! I must be out of my mind! I am so excited for all the traveling to begin. Pictures will be posted soon of each trip, but first, I am going to give you some sanity saving travel tips!

Dress Comfortably. It seems super simple, but it can really change your mood. Dressing comfortably doesn’t mean you have to look like crap though. I usually wear leggings and a comfy shirt, do my hair, and put on some natural looking make up. I look and feel good, plus I can easily nap!

Play games!! I remember road trips with my parents and brother used to be fun when we would play games like the ABC Sign game or the 50 states license plate game! My daughter is quite partial to her tablet and the portable DVD player. Just make sure you keep everyone entertained!

Stop, and smell the roses! Or the truck stop. Either way, just take a break from all the driving. I bring special “gifts” for my daughter to play with on the road just when we stop. We like to bring bubbles, bouncy balls, hoola hoops, jump ropes, and any other fun activity. This also helps your child with the “I’m hungry even though we just stopped 15 minutes ago for lunch” tantrum. She is not hungry, she is bored.

Sing songs. Singing can be really fun! Turn on the radio and have a “who can sing it better” competition! It is fun and can creating some… uh… interesting memories of Daddy singing like Lady GaGa.

Bring snacks. You won’t have to stop every time someone gets hungry. We usually bring jars of peanut butter and jelly and a loaf of bread. We also bring sodas and bottles of water and keep them in an ice chest in the car. Stop maybe once every hour to rest and stretch.

Come prepared. Along with snacks, you might find it handy to have these items in your car as well:

So, I am a dance teacher and my dancers will be going to many competitions and performances that are out of town. Plus, spring break is right around the corner. I always find myself packing half of my closet with me and not even being able to carry my own suitcase. It suddenly clicked, why not pack light and still bring everything I need? How is this possible you ask? Here are some great tips for packing light and looking cute while going out of town.

1. Mix and match. I always bring mix and match items for me and my daughter. If something gets spilled on her skirt, I don’t have to change her whole outfit. Just her bottoms or vice versa. I love to shop at The Children’s Place because they have such cute mix and match items and at a great price too! For adults, mix and match is a little different. I bring pieces that can be layered over, under, and worn different ways. My list includes:

A Cardigan- Go for black or white because it will go with virtually any outfit.

A Chambray Shirt- You can wear it with shorts, over a tank top, over a dress, you name it.

A Sundress- You can wear it as a skirt, under a cardigan, or all by itself.

A Maxi Dress- Once again, wear it a million different ways.

Jeans- They can be rolled up into capris, tucked into boots, etc…

Shorts- It may be too hot to wear jeans.

A Solid T-Shirt- I may bring several of these because of their versatility!

A Tank Top- Once again, I may bring several!

4 pair of shoes- A pair of flip flops or sandals, a pair of heels, a pair of flats, and a pair of tennis shoes.

Check out my post about versatility.

2. Remember to pack light. It is hard not to pack every little thing you own to go on a trip. I stick to the basics and versatile pieces. You don’t need to pack a formal dress just in case you get invited to a mansion party. If that happens, why not go shopping for a dress instead of lugging one around that you don’t know if you will wear. Also pack lighter fabrics. They can easily be rolled up. I also limit myself to 2 pair of shoes per day that we will be gone, but no more than 5 pair. I always pack a pair of flip flops or sandals, a pair of heels, a pair of flats, and a pair of tennis shoes. These same rules apply when packing for our children too!

3. Pack in the smallest suitcase you can. The less room you have to “fill up” the less you will pack. I only pack 1 outfit per day that we will be gone and maybe 2 extra outfits just in case.

4. Know your destination and your activities. You won’t need that winter parka if you are going to the beach in the summer. You may want to pack 1 light hoodie or sweater to wear in the evenings. If you are going horseback riding, make sure you have pants instead of a skirt or dress and closed toed shoes. Make sure you check the weather a few days before you go!

5. Pack SMARTER not HARDER. Pack everything you need into one teeny tiny little bag by rolling items as small as you can get them. Put your shoes in the bottom and put socks and underwear inside your shoes. Put bulkier items towards the bottom and lighter items at the top!

6. Travel Size. Always buy travel size or buy the empty travel bottles. Never ever pack full size shampoos or body soaps. You won’t use nearly that much, so why take it? It is a waste of space.

Ok, so there are a few tips! Now, here is my general vacation packing list. This is what I go by and I stick to it. This is my list for a 2 night 3 day trip. Double this list for every 3 days you will be gone.

MOMMY STUFF

1 Cardigan

1 Skirt

1 Sundress or Maxi Dress

1 Pair of Shorts

1 Pair of Jeans

4-5 pair of underwear

1 pair of leggings

4 shirts

2 swimsuits

1-2 bras

4 pair of shoes

1 Hoodie or Jacket

Accessories

1-2 pair of socks

KID STUFF

1 Hoodie or Jacket

5-6 Mix & Match Bottoms

6-7 Mix & Match Tops

6-8 Pair of Underwear

1 Dress

3 pair of shoes

1-2 pair of socks

Toy or Activity

2 swimsuits

TOILETRIES

Shampoo & Conditioner

Deodorant

Body Wash

Toothbrush & Toothpaste

Razor

Face Wash

Moisturizer

Make Up

Hair brush, hair ties, bobby pins, etc…

Allergy Medication

Prescription Medications/ Birth Control

First Aid Kit

Motion Sickness Medication

Lip Balm (with spf)

Sunscreen

Bug Spray

Sun Hat

Aloe Vera

Feminine Hygiene Products

TECHNOLOGY

Tablet or Laptop

Cell Phone

Ipod

Camera

Chargers for EVERYTHING

That is my list. Anything else can be bought when we get there. I also have the whole family share shampoo, conditioner, soap, face wash, and sunscreen. That saves on a lot of room!

Our little Izzy’s 5th birthday is February 28th, so we (we really means me!!!) decided that since we don’t really want to get Izzy something that will just end up in the trash in a week (which happens more often than you think when you have a rowdy little girl) we are going to go on a weekend vacation the weekend after Valentine’s Day!!! We are just going to Tulsa, but still it is going to be so much fun! We are going to take Izzy to the Tulsa Zoo if the weather is nice like it has been, the Space Museum/Planetarium, the aquarium in Jenks again, and just go shopping and let her swim in the hotel pool! I am so excited for this trip! We have been needing a vacation and this is the perfect time to go somewhere! The weather here in Oklahoma has been like spring all winter long! It has been very sporadic though. Just two days ago I was in a tank top, shorts, and flip flops and today I am breaking out the winter coat and Uggs again! I can’t wait until this weather evens out and it is Spring for real! We are doing this vacation on a tight budget! Here is how we are going on vacation for the weekend doing a ton of stuff and spending under $250 for EVERYTHING!

*Budget Hotels

Unless you plan on spending your entire vacation in the hotel room, you will not need to stay in the fanciest hotel! Chances are that you will only be there about 30% of the time just to rest and sleep. We plan on not spending over $75 per night on a hotel.

*Food

Make sure your hotel has an in room fridge and microwave. This can save you a fortune on food! We like to bring our own bottles of soda, stuff for sandwiches, and even TV Dinners to make and heat up in the room! We usually only go out to eat for dinner and it is a cheaper family restaurant instead of somewhere super fancy!

*Amenities

Go for a hotel that has a Complimentary Breakfast! This can save you money on food once again. I also like to take a few breakfast bars or something back up to the room to keep for snacking during the day! Get a hotel with a pool! This can provide hours of entertainment for the entire family and usually does not cost more than a hotel without a pool. Get a hotel with free wifi as well! You can bring your laptop and let the kids watch tv shows online when there is nothing to watch on tv. We like to bring our Roku (you have to get one of these! They are amazing! Look it up online!) so that we can watch our Netflix movies and Izzy can watch her Spongebob!

*Coupons

Check out what activities you want to do by going to their website. You can find days and times when your visit will be cheaper! If you plan on going somewhere multiple days or multiple times a year for vacationing, get a season pass. Usually after 2 visits it pays for itself!